I doubled the amount on purpose BUT forgot about it infusing and infused longer than I should of but I will tell you this is VERY forgiving and quite good! VERY juicy mandarin and absolutely LOVELY! Ahhhhhhhh!

Preparation

YUMYUMYUM! I was not expecting such a delicious oolong. I have a feeling that this tea could provide a lot of diversity in taste. Since I had such yummy results using boiling water with Samovar’s Wuyi Dark Roast, I went straight for the boiling water first. Apparently it was a good idea. I love it! I think the boiling water intensifies the roasted flavor. The liquor is dark amber. The taste is smooth and certainly robust…very flavorful for a dark oolong. The roasted notes are very prominent. I’m also picking up soba and a light sweetness like mild honey. There is also an earthy stoutness. I think if this tea was steeped at a lower temp and time, that it would yield a much different result. Milder and perhaps a little sweeter with heightened notes of orchid. I’ll have to play around with it. As it stands now, this is a power packed oolong…and great for breakfast.

…though it’s not one of my better ones, writing-stylewise; it has come to my attention that I’ve used the “pork rinds” metaphor to describe lapsang souchong perhaps one too many times. Mike was kind to post the review anyway. In the meantime, I’ll work on honing my adjectival vocabulary.

Wrote a more eloquent review for future posting to www.itsallabouttheleaf.com. Okay, maybe not eloquent, but at least more wordy and full of adjectives and verbs and things and even a lame attempt at quoting Shakespeare. But at any rate, here’s the first sip:

My first experience with lapsang souchong was pretty disastrous—-reminiscent of sucking pork rinds—-so when I first opened this tea packet and the first whiff that hit my nose was souchong-like “smoke,” I was very apprehensive.

But, intrepid tea taster that I am, I persevered and was pleasantly surprised. The big, black loose leaves brew up a luscious, clear red-gold color. At three minutes with boiling water (again, I erred on the side of caution thinking this was going to be really strong) the smoke taste does lead the caravan, but the other teas in the blend add a little sweetness and balance.

Preparation

I agree and like what posters have already said. Kenya has these fine nuggets that feel like what I imagine the minerally, dry and delicate African soil it grows in.
It is a minerally, potent brew, cost effective and I keep it for when I am getting repetitive with other black-tea varieties. It is also on the cheaper side, so cost-benefit score is quite high. In my next life I want to be a broker at the Kenyan tea exchange.

Thanks to LiberTEAS for so many samples, and generous ones at that! I’m just “Meh” about this chai, maybe if I brew it stronger that will change. But as of right now it hasn’t knocked Tazo Chai off it’s pedestal. It is better than the Twinnings though!

I want to thank you Doulton for an ample sample of this green tea. Very mellow Chinese green. No astringency. Great iced and hot. It isn’t a weak tea, but it’s mild, if that makes sense. The second brew was even more likable. If I could personify this tea, I would think it would be the Dude from The Big Lebowski. Just laid back, doesn’t care that it’s mellow.

Preparation

I hadn’t tried this in awhile, but glad I thought to pull it out of my cupboard. This is an amazing oolong, particularly for Fall. Somewhat vegetal on the palate, but then blooms into a sweet floral finish that is absolutely wonderful. Green, clean, delicious.